The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) has launched a public art initiative to commission 13 original works for its redeveloped campus in downtown Newark.

The new neighborhood taking shape around NJPAC’s iconic theaters will include ArtSide, a 350-unit residential and retail development, and the Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center, a three-story home for NJPAC’s arts education programs, community initiatives, and rehearsal studios.

These new public artworks will enliven the area with installations that reflect the rhythm, resilience, and vitality of Newark’s communities. The project—titled Stories in Sound, Movement, and Community—weaves together the three core elements of NJPAC’s mission to bring people together through the performing arts. Each work will be site-specific and offer an interactive experience that celebrates the city’s artistic legacy and contemporary creative expression.

We look forward to inviting artists, particularly those with community-engaged practices, to help envision and energize this new neighborhood. An RFP is now open in partnership with Project for Empty Space for new works that capture both the spirit and mission of the performing arts center and the energy of our home city, Newark.


Learn More and Apply: njpac.org/publicart
Deadline to Apply: January 19, 2026
Virtual Artist Information Session: December 10, 3–4:30 PM
RSVP Link:  njpac.org/publicart/#register
Eligibility: Artists in New Jersey and New York
Compensation and Budget: Some projects offer fixed honoraria, and others offer preset budgets. Artist honorariums range from $7,500 to $25,000. Holistic project budgets range from $50,000 to $75,000.